This is author biographical info, that can be used to tell more about you, your iterests, background and experience. You can change it on Admin > Users > Your Profile > Biographical Info page."
Get a Custom Essay Paper that meets your expectations by clicking ORDER
Biblical Concepts of Finance and Accounting
Order Instructions:
You will write an word essay in current APA format that focuses on how biblical concepts are related to the fields of accounting and finance. The essay must incorporate a thoughtful analysis (considering assumptions, analyzing implications, comparing/contrasting concepts) of accounting, finance, and your faith. The paper must include at least 3 peer-reviewed references in addition to the Bible and course textbook
Biblical Concepts of Finance and Accounting
Below is a partial answer to the above homework questions by one of our writers. If you are interested in a custom non plagiarized top quality answer, click order now to place your order.
Biblical Concepts of Finance and Accounting
While the notion of a connection between religion and core concepts of finance and accounting may seem far-fetched initially, a deeper analysis and look into the religious laws and standings offers a different perspective. From such research and analysis of relevant sources, concepts such as savings, budgeting, maintenance of records, debt management, financial planning, and the importance of labor and productivity are clearly visible from a biblical perspective. This paper looks into the connection between various biblical concepts and their connection to finance and accounting.
A culture of savings
Saving is the concept and act of putting a share of income aside on purpose as a means of deferred spending. The financial reason behind the concept of spending is usually a means of reduction of costs, the creation of future cash flow, or a form of insurance. The concept of saving is fundamental in the areas of personal finance as well as business accounting. In personal finance, for example, the ability of an individual or a family to set some money aside each year during their active work age allows them to pursue a number of options in the future.
Such options include the ability to fund education for their offspring, capital for a business venture, and consumption during retirement. On the other hand, in business accounting, savings is predominantly in the reduction of costs such as costs of production, sales, and recurrent expenditures in a bid to improve the profit margin.
Biblical Concepts of Finance and Accounting
The concept of savings, as observed, is important in both personal finance and corporate accounting and finance procedures. In addition, several scriptures relate this concept to biblical teachings of savings. In Proverbs 21: 20, the bible states that “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” (Biblica, Inc., 2011) This is indicative of the wisdom of saving up for future uncertainties. The absence of such a saving culture is likened to a fool who eats up all their produce after a bountiful harvest.
In addition, Proverbs 22: 3 states, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” This implies the need for insurance and retirement plans in tandem with earlier examples as well as those provided by Rodgers and Gago (2006, pp. 129 – 131 ). Additional scriptures indicating the importance of saving include Genesis 41: 35, Proverbs 30: 24 – 25, and 2nd Corinthians 12: 14.
Debt Management
The ability to manage debt effectively is integral to personal and corporate finance and accounting. In personal finance, the wisdom to choose which form of debt is useful is critical to maintaining a level of financial wellness. Expanding on the example of the family used in the previous section, if the choice to spend the portion of income dedicated to irrelevant and depreciating purchases rather than an interest generating savings plan, the family would be in debt for a long period.
In the corporate context, a company that relies on borrowings to start and keep it afloat will always be in a losing battle and in a position of servitude (Despain, 2017, p. 409). Another key concept within the realm of debt management is cosigning, since the need to cosign implies a lack of trust between the lender and the borrower, thereby requiring a third party…..
Biblical Concepts of Finance and Accounting
Get a Custom Essay Paper that meets your expectations by clicking ORDER
Get a Custom Essay Paper that meets your expectations by clicking ORDER
Evaluating Research Questions, Hypotheses, and Quantitative Research Designs
For this Discussion, you will evaluate quantitative research questions and hypotheses in assigned journal article and consider the alignment of theory, problem, purpose, research questions and hypotheses, and design.
You will also identify the type of quantitative research design the authors used and explain how it was implemented.
Discuss a critique of the research study in which you:
• Evaluate the research questions and hypotheses using the Research Questions and Hypotheses Checklist as a guide
• Identify the type of quantitative research design used and explain how the researchers implemented the design
• Analyze alignment among the theory, problem, purpose, research questions and hypotheses, and design
Be sure to support your Main Issue Post and Response Post with reference to the week’s Learning Resources and other scholarly evidence in APA Style.
Reading Resources
Babbie, E. (2017). Basics of social research (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.Chapter 5, “Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement”
Burkholder, G. J., Cox, K. A., & Crawford, L. M. (2016). The scholar-practitioner’s guide to research design. Baltimore, MD: Laureate Publishing.Chapter 4, “Quantitative Research Designs”
Use the following criteria to evaluate an author’s research questions and/or hypotheses. Look for indications of the following:
• Is the research question(s) a logical extension of the purpose of the study?
• Does the research question(s) reflect the best question to address the problem?
• Does the research question(s) align with the design of the study?
• Does the research question(s) align with the method identified for collecting data? If the study is qualitative, does the research question(s) do as follows?
• Relate the central question to the qualitative approach
• Begin with What or How (not Why)
• Focus on a single phenomenon
• Use exploratory verbs
• Use non-directional language
• Use an open-ended format
• Specify the participants and research site If the study is quantitative:
• Do the descriptive questions seek to describe responses to major variables?
• Do the inferential questions seek to compare groups or relate variables?
• Do the inferential questions follow from a theory?
• Are the variables positioned consistently from independent/predictor to dependent/outcome in the inferential questions?
• Is a null and/or alternative hypothesis provided as a predictive statement?
• Is the hypothesis consistent with its respective research question?
• Does the question(s) and/or hypothesis specify the participants and research site? If the study is mixed methods, do the research questions and/or hypotheses do the following?
• Include the characteristics of a good qualitative research question (as listed above)
• Include the characteristics of a good quantitative research and/or hypothesis (as listed above)
• Indicate how the researcher will mix or integrate the two approaches of the study
• Specify the participants and research site
• Convey the overall intent of the study that calls for a mixed methods approach
Below is a partial answer to the above homework questions by one of our writers. If you are interested in a custom non plagiarized top quality answer, click order now to place your order.
Evaluating Research Questions, Hypotheses, and Quantitative Research Designs
Canfield, Kivisalu, Van Der Karr, King, and Phillips (2015), present a discussion on the validity of the use of course grading as an effective method of assessing the learning outcomes of students. The research questions used in the study are in line with the purpose of the study. The descriptive questions used in the article seek to describe the responses to the main variables through the assessment of discriminant and convergent validity.
The inferential questions seek to both compare groups and relate inter-group and intra-group variables. These inferential questions follow the multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) of assessment. The research questions used in the study also align with the chosen technique of analysis of the collected data (Babbie, 2017, pp. 426 – 438). In this case, the choice of the multitrait-multimethod aligns with the research questions.
Get a Custom Essay Paper that meets your expectations by clicking ORDER
Get a Custom Essay Paper that meets your expectations by clicking ORDER
Doctoral Research
Order Instructions:
Reading and Reviewing a Doctoral research dissertation for quality.
Read the doctoral article: 2010Teacher and Administrator Perceptions of Administrative Responsibilities for Implementing the Jacobs Model of Curriculum Mapping By Valerie Lyle Then: • Review the problem statement on Page 14.
• Use the dissertation checklist (see below) to analyze the quality of the dissertation’s problem statement.
To complete:
• Explain whether you think this draft meets Rubric checklist (see below) and dissertation checklist standards.
• Justify for your evaluation.
• Use APA style with citations.
Required Reading
Single, P. B. (2010). Demystifying dissertation writing: A streamlined process from choice of topic to final text. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.Chapter 3, “Interactive Reading and Note Taking
Intro and Section 3.1, “Scholarly Reading is the Foundation of Your Dissertation” (pp. 55–58)Section 3.4, “Interactive Reading in Practice (pp. 63–64)
Butin, D. W. (2010). The education dissertation: A guide for practitioner scholars. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.Chapter 4, “Structuring Your Research” (pp. 63–69)
Dissertation Checklist: Qualitative • State the research problem.
• Provide evidence of consensus that the problem is current, relevant, and significant to the discipline.
• Frame the problem in a way that builds upon or counters previous research findings focusing primarily on research conducted in the last 5 years.
Doctoral Research
Rubric Checklist
Quality Indicators
Nine key indicators have been identified to assure the overall quality of the EdD doctoral study at this point in its development. Supervisory committee members will use these indicators to give ongoing feedback and to document their final evaluation of the Doctoral Study Prospectus in MyDR. Students should use these indicators to guide development of the prospectus.
Rubric
A Doctoral Study Prospectus shows the potential of leading to a doctoral-quality doctoral study only if the answer to all of the following standards is either “Target” or “Acceptable” on the rubric.
1. Complete?Does the prospectus contain all the required elements? Refer to the annotated outline to see the required parts of the Doctoral Study Prospectus document.
2. Meaningful?Has a meaningful problem or gap in practice been identified? In other words, is addressing this problem the logical next step, building on what is already known, and does it stay within the student’s area of professional practice (i.e., topics that the program coursework covers)?
3. Justified?Is evidence presented that this problem is significant to the local site as well as the discipline and/or professional field? The prospectus should provide relevant statistics and evidence, documentable discrepancies, and other scholarly facts that point to the significance and urgency of the problem. The problem must be an authentic “puzzle” that needs solving, not merely a topic that the researcher finds interesting.
4. Grounded?Is the problem framed to enable the researcher to either build on or counter the previously published findings on the topic? For most fields, grounding involves articulating the problem within the context of a theoretical base or conceptual framework. The essential requirement is that the problem is framed such that the new findings will have implications for the previous findings.
5. Original?Does this project have potential to make an original contribution toward addressing a gap in practice? Addressing the problem should result in an original contribution to the field.
6. Impact?Does this project have potential to affect positive social change? As described in the Significance section (see annotated outline), the anticipated findings and project should have potential to support the mission of Walden University to promote positive social change.
7. Feasible?Can a systematic method of inquiry be used to address the problem? The tentative methodology demonstrates that the researcher has considered the options for inquiry, selected an approach that has potential to address the problem, and considered potential risks and burdens placed on research participants.
8. Aligned?Do the various aspects of the prospectus align overall? The research methodology and design should align with the problem, research questions, and tentative approaches to inquiry.
9. Objective?Is the topic approached in an objective manner? The framing of the problem should not reveal bias or present a foregone conclusion. Even if the researcher has a strong opinion on the expected findings, the researcher must maximize scholarly objectivity by framing the problem in the context of a systematic inquiry that permits multiple possible conclusions.
Below is a partial answer to the above homework questions by one of our writers. If you are interested in a custom non plagiarized top quality answer, click order now to place your order.
Doctoral Research
The three paragraphs present a discussion on three tasks used to assess APA formatting among students as outlined by Chism and Weerakoon (2012). The study consisted of three tasks where the first indicated an inconsistency with the APA formatting among instructors, peers, and the students. The second task showed the need for consistent practice to improve on some areas of APA formatting. The third task illuminates the need for corrective reinforcement of the APA standard among graduate students.
In the article, not all pieces of evidence given are explained, which implies a lack of proper analysis on the part of the author. Second, the paragraphs lack transitional phrasing to link the main ideas in the article and between paragraphs. Third, the ideas in the paragraphs have a connection, albeit an indistinct one in some instances, to the main ideas in the respective paragraphs.
Paragraph 1 addition analysis:
After calculating the results, the task showed that APA formatting is a challenge for graduate students with a mean error rate of 30% (Chism & Weerakoon, 2012, pg. 35). This implies that at least four students made errors, and at least 18 of the 61 errors could not be identified…..
Doctoral Research
Get a Custom Essay Paper that meets your expectations by clicking ORDER
Get a Custom Essay Paper that meets your expectations by clicking ORDER
Consolidations
Overview
Complete two exercises in accounting for outside ownership (noncontrolling interest) and eliminating intercompany transactions, resulting in unrealized gains and losses.
When one company acquires control of a subsidiary company, the ownership interest of the parent may be less than 100 percent.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
Competency 2: Evaluate the influence of global money markets on financial statements.
Determine consolidated balances.
Context
A parent company need not acquire 100 percent of a subsidiary’s stock to form a business combination. Only control over the decision-making process is necessary—a level that has historically been achieved by obtaining a majority of the voting shares. Ownership of any subsidiary stock that is retained by outside, unrelated parties is collectively referred to as noncontrolling interest.
A consolidation takes on an added degree of complexity when a noncontrolling interest is present. The noncontrolling interest represents a group of subsidiary owners, and their equity is recognized by the parent in its consolidated financial statements. Valuation of subsidiary assets and liabilities poses a problem when a noncontrolling interest is present and follows the acquisition method. There are any number of challenges facing accountants with respect to noncontrolling interest issues. Central to these issues is the financial statement presentation for both entities.
In Assessment 1, you analyzed the deferral and subsequent recognition of gains created by inventory transfers between two affiliated companies in connection with equity method accounting. In that case, intra-entity profits are not realized until the earning process culminates in a sale to an unrelated party. A parallel logic can be applied to transactions between companies within a business combination. Such sales within a single economic entity create neither profits nor losses.
The opportunity for such direct acquisition, especially of inventory, is often the underlying motive for the creation of the business combination. Because the transaction was not made with an outside, unrelated party, the sales and purchases created by the transfer must be accounted for by accountants with each entity. This is true regardless of the asset, be it inventory, land, or depreciable assets.
Question to Consider
To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below concerning consolidations and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.
What accounting and reporting are appropriate for a noncontrolling interest?
How are additional stock purchases by a parent corporation in its subsidiary consolidated?
How are subsidiary revenues and expenses reported on a consolidated income statement when the parent gains control during the current accounting period?
What are the accounting and reporting effects, if the parent buys or sells shares of a subsidiary?
What are the accounting and reporting effects of intra-entity asset transfers?
What are the balance sheet effects of intra-entity transactions when a noncontrolling interest is present?
Why would a corporation choose one type of interest over the other when purchasing a stake in another corporation?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each interest type for the acquiring and subsidiary corporation?
Consider the following case:
In 2001, PepsiCo and the Quaker Oats Company reached an agreement to become one company. Refer to the associated New York Times article and the SEC document linked in the Suggested Resources under the Internet Resources heading when considering the following:.
What type of marriage does this represent?
Who are the winners and losers?
Could this marriage happen today?
Push-down accounting is a method of accounting in which the financial statements of a subsidiary are presented to reflect the costs incurred by the parent company in buying the subsidiary, instead of the subsidiary’s historical costs. The purchase costs of the parent company are shown in the subsidiary’s statements. Although the use of push-down accounting for external reporting is limited, this method has gained favor for internal reporting purposes.
Why has push-down accounting gained popularity for internal reporting purposes?
Resources
Click the links provided to view the following resource:
Access the following resources by clicking the links provided. Please note that URLs change frequently. Permissions for the following links have been either granted or deemed appropriate for educational use at the time of course publication.
Complete Exercises 1 and 2 in the Consolidations Excel Workbook, linked in the Required Resources for this assessment. All financial information and applicable instructions are provided on each exercise worksheet
We can write this or a similar paper for you! Simply fill the order form!
Job order and process cost accounting systems
ORDER INSTRUCTIONS:
Use the Assessment 2 Template to complete Part 1 and Part 2. Each part is a different tab in the template.
For Part 3, create a Microsoft Word document. Submit both the completed template and the Word document for this assessment.
Part 1: Using Part 1 of the template, read the Central Manufacturing Company scenario and then complete the following:
1. Determine the unit cost for the month in finishing.
2. Determine the total cost of the products transferred to finished goods.
3. Determine the total cost of the ending work in process inventory.
Part 2: Using Part 2 of the template, solve the Central Manufacturing Company problems using an average cost processing system.
Part 3: In a 1–2-page Microsoft Word document, compare and contrast how job order and process cost accounting systems differ for each of the following items:
1. Materials.
2. Labor.
Below is a partial answer to the above homework questions by one of our writers. If you are interested in a custom non plagiarized top quality answer, click order now to place your order.
Job order and process cost accounting systems Essay
Job costing is a system used in the production of heterogeneous products. The difference in the products produced is known as the creation of a job order cost record for each item. Both the direct material as well as the direct labor costs will be reported in the job cost record and any production overhead incurred (Braun et al., 2014). Process costing is an accounting system used to determine the cost of the product at each stage of production.
It is adopted where the goods produced are manufactured in a sequence of processes that are continuous. Unit cost under individual costs is determined then summed up to give an average unit cost for the product (Braun et al., 2014). The section below provides a comparison between job order costing and process accounting orders in terms of materials and labor.
Materials
Similarities
Both methods have the same aim of determining the total cost of materials used. Both job order and process costing have the same workflow, where the materials inventory is recorded in a separate account and then the costs are transferred to work in the process account (Braun et al., 2014). Another similarity in both systems is that the direct material cost is included in the product cost. The management uses the unit cost of materials for decision-making. To achieve this, management will evaluate…….
We can write this or a similar paper for you! Simply fill the order form!
Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here
Ethical Issues Analysis
Order Instructions:
Please use these instructions to complete the paper
Case Analysis Book: Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues. 9th edition. Vincent Ruggiero Case 1: The Government pg 168 #5. A number of groups have urged restrictions on child labor. For example, they believe that no one under age 16 should be permitted to work in manufacturing; mining, agricultural and construction industries; that hours of work should be limited in all jobs for workers under the age of 18; and that no one under 21 should be allowed to have any contact with pesticides.
Question: Discuss the moral considerations attending this proposal.b. Identify the moral issues.
Identify the parties involved.
And infer their interests.
Discuss this case in terms of finding common ground in the diversity of interests you identify.
Case#2: pg108 #4e)
An English teacher in a two-year technical college has several students in his composition course whose ignorance of the English language has proved invincible. He has given them extra work and extra counseling from the first week of the semester. They have been diligent in their efforts to improve. Though they are in a construction technology program and will undoubtedly be employed in jobs that require little writing skill, the composition course is required for graduation. In the instructor’s judgement, the students would not be able to pass the course legitimately if they took it three times, so he raises their F grades to Ds.
Question: Identify the consequences of the action taken… and decide whether the action represented the greater good.
2. Identify the moral issues and the parties involved
3. Discuss the case with respect to the principle of utility…
4 …. Identify the benefits and burdens that pertain to the parties affected?
Below is a partial answer to the above homework questions by one of our writers. If you are interested in a custom non plagiarized top quality answer, click order now to place your order.
Ethical Issues Analysis
Case 1
There are various moral issues involved in this case. The first moral issue is child labor. Child labor is considered a moral issue because it not only denies children their childhood but it could lead to potential harm both physically and mentally. Child labor robs children of dignity and also denies them the opportunity to develop normally and get an education (Tanveer, Manzar & Khan, 2016).
The second moral issue is poverty. It is notable that child labor is common among the poor who do not have access to adequate education and other life opportunities (Tanveer, Manzar & Khan, 2016). The government is responsible for addressing poverty as a moral issue instead of just issuing restrictions on child labor.
The parties involved in this case include the children and young adults aged below 21 years, the government, the groups lobbying for restriction of child labor and the companies employing the children in the various industries identified as being unfit for child labor.
Each of these parties has different interests. The children may not have any other choice but to work in order to earn a livelihood. This may be influenced by their backgrounds which do not allow them to live normal lives like other children such as going to school. The government may be under pressure to fight poverty in the country and by restricting child labor, the poverty burden is likely to increase.
This would lead to higher expenditure in taking care of such children. The lobby groups’ interests is to protect the rights of children from exploitation and harm from doing work that is inappropriate for their age, hence their lobbying activities. The hiring companies on the other hand may be benefiting from cheap child labor and may not be interested in eliminating it.
Finding a common ground would require the formulation of plausible solutions to each of the party interests identified. In this relation, the various interests need to be studied with consideration of how effectively they can be satisfied while eliminating the moral issue (Ruggiero, 2015). The government and the lobby groups must work with the families of the children to understand the reason why they are working at that age.
They should then develop strategies that would ensure that the children can be provided with what they need to live normal lives. Collaborating with hiring companies to consider hiring adult employees is also imperative and this may be achieved by government subsidies to reduce the cost of human capital incurred by the institutions. This should then be accompanied by sanctions to ensure that companies employing child labor are prosecuted. This way, they would stop relying on children for cheap labor…..
Ethical Issues Analysis
Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here
Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here
Product Management and Situation Analysis
This Case Assignment focuses on Volkswagen’s emissions scandal and related brand management and business ethics issues.
Product Management and Situation Analysis
Case Reading
A mucky business; the volkswagen scandal. (2015, Sep 26). The Economist, 416, 23-25.
Boston, W., & Houston-Waesch, M. (2015, Oct 15). Volkswagen suspends another top engineer; berlin orders recall; transport minister says recall of tainted diesel cars is mandatory. Wall Street Journal (Online).
Danny, Hakim, Kessler, A. M., & Ewing, J. (2015, Sep 27). As VW pushed to be no. 1, ambitions fueled a scandal. New York Times. De Cremer, D., & de Bettignies, H. (2013). PRAGMATIC BUSINESS ETHICS. Business Strategy Review, 24(2), 64-67.
Here are some articles on brand equity and brand management.
Keller, K. L. (1993). Conceptualizing, measuring, and managing customer-based brand equity. Journal of Marketing, 57(1), 1-22.
Helm, S., & Tolsdorf, J. (2013). How does corporate reputation affect customer loyalty in a corporate crisis? Journal of Contingencies & Crisis Management, 21 (3), p144-152.
Product Management and Situation Analysis
PROMOTION MANAGEMENT & SWOT ANALYSIS
Here is the brief overview of this cumulative Session Long Project (SLP). In this research project, you would work as a marketing consultant to develop a feasible marketing plan for your client. You would conduct both secondary research in SLP1 and SLP2 to glean the necessary information for your marketing plan in SLP3 and SLP4.
It is important to conduct quality market research on your focal product/company in order to develop realistic and workable marketing plans. Generally speaking, there are two types of research. One is secondary research, which refers to data collection using existing sources, and the other is primary research, which is your own data collection for the specific study at hand. The purpose of market research is to collect usable information to make more informed decisions on the business problem, thus increasing the chance of business success in the marketplace.
The final format for this cumulative session long project;
A list of topics for the whole project;
The continuity and connections among SLPs 1-4.
In this module SLP 2, conduct SWOT analysis for your charge based on the situation analysis in SLP1. This is the second step of this cumulative research project. Be sure to revise the sections in SLP1 and include them in this paper following the marketing plan outline provided above.
Product Management and Situation Analysis
SWOT Analysis
A thorough situation analysis in the Module 1 SLP is the foundation for a SWOT analysis. Develop statements of the company’s internal strengths and weaknesses, and external opportunities and threats. If there is any question as to whether a fact or issue is external (these lead to opportunity and threat statements) or internal (these lead to strength and weakness statements), ask this key question, “Would this issue exist if the company did not exist?” If the answer is yes, then the issue should be classified as external.
Note: Remember that alternative marketing strategies and tactics are not opportunities. Opportunities and threats exist independently of the firm. Strategies and tactics are what the firm intends to do about its opportunities and threats relative to its own strengths and weaknesses.
The SWOT will play a critical role (along with an in-depth understanding of target market needs/preferences and competition) in the development of goals, objectives, and marketing strategies and programs. Key strengths need to be matched to opportunities and converted to capabilities that help serve customer needs better and lead to competitive advantage.
Goals, strategies, and program ideas stem from an attempt to convert weaknesses into strengths and threats into opportunities. Some alternatives will also come from thinking about how to minimize the repercussions of weaknesses and threats that cannot be converted, and/or how to avoid them altogether. Follow the instructions below to identify strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats.
Product Management and Situation Analysis
A. Strengths and Weaknesses (Internal)
Think about internal conditions; those things that management has some control over that are relevant to future success and effectiveness. The task is to identify internal strengths, which must be taken into consideration as management plans for the future.
Remember, a strength is any internal characteristic that improves effectiveness. Look for factors that help the company improve positioning in the marketplace, enhance financial performance, and most importantly, fight off threats and take advantage of opportunities in the external environment.
A weakness is any internal characteristic that limits effectiveness, performance, and the ability to accomplish objectives, meet threats, and take advantage of opportunities.
It is also important to point out that a particular fact about the internal environment may have a weakness and a strength dimension. For example, we might say that the company’s technical skills are of the highest quality and this is a strength, but since these skills are possessed by only a few employees, it is also a weakness in that we need more people with such skills and would be hurt if a few key people left the company.
Using the following 16 internal factors to stimulate your thinking, list all of the company strengths you can think of for each category. Then review the same list of 16 internal factors and develop a list of company weaknesses. (You may not have access to all of the information below, but try your best to identify at least five of them for your project).
Product Management and Situation Analysis
Internal Factors
The following categories of internal factors are commonly used to generate a list of specific company strengths and weaknesses. This list is to be used to stimulate your thinking about internal strengths and weaknesses.
Management leadership/capabilities.
Organization structure and management systems.
Facilities, equipment, and materials.
Technical skills and expertise.
Dedication, morale, and motivation of employees.
Capacity to meet demand—production capacity, including excess available for growing demand.
Marketing effectiveness/efficiency—advertising, personal selling, public relations, products/services, prices, distribution, marketing research and planning, customer service, warranties, sales support, sales promotion, etc.
Ability to deliver what the market wants.
Ability to deliver in a timely manner.
Image and reputation as perceived by customers and within the industry.
Customer (and potential customer) perception—likes, dislikes, and perceptions of service, quality, etc.
Financial performance—sales, market share, customer satisfaction/loyalty, and profits.
Financial situation—availability of capital, internal funding, financial stability, etc.
Cost of operations—high cost vs. low cost, rising costs, costs compared to competition (manufacturing, distribution, etc.)
Geographic location(s).
Other relevant competencies/resources that translate into strengths that have not been mentioned. Also, any weaknesses we have missed related to a lack of competencies and/or resources that are needed in the future.
Product Management and Situation Analysis
B. Opportunities and Threats (External)
Think about the most significant trends in the organization’s external environment that will have an impact on future success. The challenge is to identify relevant opportunities and threats outside management’s control that must be taken into consideration during the planning process. You will need to list and describe the factors/issues forming industry trends that may influence future efforts one way or the other, either as a positive force (opportunity) or as a barrier (threat).
An opportunity is the result of some trend or fact in the external environment that represents a marketplace and/or financial performance advantage. It may indicate a new direction, product or service, and/or resource requirement for the company. It represents an attractive arena for marketing action in which the company would enjoy a competitive advantage.
A threat is the result of some trend or fact in the external environment that represents an area of concern for management. It represents a challenge posed by an unfavorable trend or development that would lead, in the absence of effective marketing action, to the erosion of the company’s or industry’s position. A threat may:
Directly or indirectly affect the business.
Indicate an area to be avoided.
Demand a strategic response.
Represent an opportunity if responded to properly.
It should be pointed out that a particular trend in the external environment (for example, mergers/acquisitions, technological advancements, and/or a recent change in the way competitors operate and what they are offering the market) can imply both a threat and an opportunity. Sometimes in strategic planning we say that behind each threat (or problem) lies an opportunity.
Or an optimist in strategic planning will look at threats and try to turn them into opportunities. Thus, it should be remembered that if management can adapt properly to a threat (such as mergers and acquisitions), this trend may be viewed as an opportunity as well as a threat.
Review the following 13 categories of external environmental trend factors and list the trends or issues that are relevant to the company and industry. Then translate each factor identified into a specific opportunity and/or threat statement. That is, what are the implications of each environmental trend or issue outside the company in terms of specific opportunities and/or threats? (You may not have access to all the information below, but try your best to identify at least five of them for your project).
Product Management and Situation Analysis
External Environmental Trend Factors
The following categories of external environmental trend factors are commonly considered in the planning process. They are used to develop a specific list of company opportunities and threats. This list is to be used to stimulate your thinking about opportunities and threats in the external environment.
Mergers and acquisitions—(e.g., among customers, potential customers, suppliers, competitors, and/or within the industry).
Competitive trends—specific competitive strategies and programs, or recent changes such as lower prices or new products.
Economic trends—forces and changes in the economy such as inflation, interest rates, recession.
Market/industry trends—size of firm related to industry, financial performance of the industry compared with the firm, size/growth rate of current and future potential market characteristics and trends in markets and industry.
Customer and potential customer attitudes—preferences, expectations, problems, wants, needs, etc. What changes are anticipated?
Legal trends—government regulations and policies.
Societal/lifestyle trends—changes in people’s values, attitudes, and activities.
10. New products/services—on the market.
11. Supply sources.
12. Declining or increasing productivity—in the industry or economy.
13. Other industry trends not previous mentioned that are relevant to the future.
Product Management and Situation Analysis
Based on the detailed discussion of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, use SWOT tables for the SWOT analysis. In other words, first state the facts based on your research, and then summarize the findings in a SWOT table. Note the examples below and follow the “best statements” to describe the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for your company and charge in SWOT table(s).
Examples
Not Useful Statement
Better Statement
Best Statement
Internal Strengths
Customer loyalty/brand image
We have a strong brand image.
We have a 42% market share and our brand is known worldwide.
Our global market share has grown from 25% to 42% over the past four years. Independent surveys show our quality and image is rated No. 1 in our industry in the U.S. and Asia and No. 2 in Europe behind XYZ.
Sales/ Distribution
Our distribution is the best in the industry.
Our product is available in more locations than our competitors’.
Our extensive distribution network provides product within 10 miles of the home or work location of 95% of our target market. Our competitors only achieve this level for 40%-65% of the market.
Internal Weaknesses
Product cost
Our costs are high.
Our major competitors, ABC and XYZ, produce in China for less cost.
Our labor costs average $40/unit (in Detroit) vs. $12/unit for our competitors (in China). With product market prices of $120/unit we barely break even.
Product Life
We have product problems.
Our product life is less than the competition.
Typically, our product fails after one year. Our major competitor’s product lasts 2-3 years. Customers are willing to pay 50% more for our competitors’ product.
External Opportunities
Alternative Distribution College Campus
We can leverage new distribution channels.
Internet could be used to increase sales to college students.
Direct Sales (via campus Intranet) and on-campus kiosks would more than double our coverage of our targeted Generation Y market.
Export Growth via Strategic Alliances
Export markets can help us grow.
Europe and Asia provide good opportunities to grow by partnering.
Strategic alliances with ABC in Europe and XYZ in Asia would allow us to double international sales in two years.
External Threats
Substitutes
Substitutes are a threat.
ABC’s new sugar-free sweetener may hurt us.
In six months, ABC’s sugar-free sweetener has achieved 20% market share. Its share is expected to grow to 40% by next year.
Mergers
Competitor mergers could hurt us.
Competitor XYZ is expected to acquire ABC.
If XYZ acquires ABC, it will dominate the distribution network and limit our access.
Check the following link for some exercises to better understand SWOT elements.
Use the following outline to organize your paper. Note that the letters “a, b, c…” and the numbers “i, ii, iii, iv…” below are used to show the major issues you need to include in your paper, but should not be used to format your paper.
III. SWOT Analysis (3-6 pages)
Strengths and Weaknesses (Internal)
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities and Threats (External)
Opportunities
Threats
SWOT Table
Note: Use double-spaced, black Verdana or Times Roman font in 12 pt. type size. Include a title page and references. Revise your Module 1 SLP based on the feedback from your professor and your additional research, and include the Module 1 SLP in the Module 2 SLP.
Explain clearly and logically the facts about your company and charge, and use the required reading to support your positions on the issues. Do not repeat or quote definitions. Your use of the required reading to support your opinions (that is, contentions or positions) should demonstrate that you understand the concepts presented.
Paraphrase the facts using your own words and ideas, employing quotes sparingly. Quotes, if absolutely necessary, should rarely exceed five words.
Academic papers at the master’s level should include citations and references. Look at different sources, especially credible and reputable resources such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Businessweek, and The Economist, to find the information for your paper. Also use Trident University’s online library databases such as ProQuest and EBSCO to find the information for your project. Your discussion on each topic should be a synthesis of the different sources. Taking shortcuts on the number and quality of your sources will result in a poor-quality marketing plan that will be of no use to your client.
Also, it is important that you reference your sources throughout the text of your marketing plan. Take the following paragraph as an example:
“As a result, telephone interviewers often do not even get a chance to explain that they are conducting a survey (Council for Marketing and Opinion Research, 2003), and response rates have steadily declined (Keeter et al., 2000) to reported lows of 7% (Council for Marketing and Opinion Research, 2003). This decrease presents a problem because not only does it increase the cost of conducting telephone surveys, but it also leads to questions concerning the generalizability of the results (Struebbe, Kernan & Grogan, 1986; Tuckel & O’Neill, 2002).”
There are different citation and reference formats such as APA, MLA, or Chicago. No matter which format you adopt for your marketing plan, make it consistent throughout the plan.
Also note: The marketing plan should use third person business writing. Avoid “we,” “our,” and “you.” Do not use contractions in business writing.
Product Management and Situation Analysis
Here are some guidelines on how to conduct information search and build critical thinking skills.
Your paper consists of arguments in favor of your opinions or positions on the issues addressed by the guidelines; therefore, avoid the following logical fallacies:
Your SLP should not simply be a list of facts. Take the facts you find about the company, the charge, and the environments that the company faces, and explain how you think those facts will affect the financial future of the product or brand in your charge. The emphasis in grading your paper will be on the breadth and depth of your discussion of each topic, critical thinking, the clarity of your discussion, and the proper organization of the paper.
Below is a partial answer to the above homework questions by one of our writers. If you are interested in a custom non plagiarized top quality answer, click order now to place your order.
Product Management and Situation Analysis Essay
Promotion Management
Extensive market research is crucial to acquire pertinent information on the client company. Such information is useful in the creation of a situational analysis, which then enables the development of a SWOT analysis for the company. Ultimately, in order to conduct effective promotion management through a feasible marketing plan, there has to be an effective analysis of the internal and external factors affecting the firm. The section below outlines such factors affecting Apple Inc.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths and Weaknesses (Internal)
Strengths. Apple Inc. possesses a number of essential internal factors that fit into the category of strengths. These factors represent things inside the company that management has some level of control over, and which improve the effectiveness of the company.
Impressive brand reputation. The listing of Apple Inc. as the most valuable brand in the world presents an image of the reputation the company enjoys across the globe. Owing to such stellar valuations, as well as the global knowledge about the brand, Apple Inc. is in a strong position to control various aspects that hinge upon such an impressive reputation (Reuters, 2018). For example, the company may launch a new product and it will instantly gain global recognition and attention owing to the relation with the Apple brand. The management may make use of such reputation to develop a far-reaching marketing plan or incorporate cutting edge and risky incentives that other corporates may not attempt.
Strong financial performance. Apple Inc. is currently among the top most profitable firms in the world. The high levels of revenues combined with an increase year on year cash flow and a healthy profit margin provide for a financially strong firm. Apple Inc. has a vast reserve of cash and cash equivalent assets. This provides a key strength for the firm by way of availing extensive financial assets (Jurevicius, 2017; Securities and Exchange Commission, 2017). Such assets prove useful in growing the company through funding of research and development initiatives, acquisition and mergers, and development of impactful advertising and marketing campaigns.
Excellent business and design skills. A key element in Apple Inc.’s management is the stellar ability to design beautiful and usable products and to manage such a business behemoth efficiently. Such skills provide an advantage over their competitors who may not have the capacity to produce great products and at the same time manage the business aspect of the company effectively. These factors provide a competitive advantage over other firms that do not have such human resource assets.
Advertising and marketing abilities. Apple Inc.’s marketing and advertising campaigns are among the most impactful and with a high return on investment. Given the financial and human resources at their disposal, the company is able to budget for high impact campaigns. With the right workforce in place, the company is able to manage the marketing budget efficiently in comparison to competitors such as Samsung who use a larger share of their revenue, with a much lower brand recognition (Jurevicius, 2017).
A Loyal fan base and extensive distribution channels. Another strength for Apple Inc. is the loyal following it enjoys. With such a strong followership, the company is assured of constant growth in the sales of its products. In addition, the extensive direct and indirect distribution networks across the globe serve to ensure the customers are always within reach of the products they require.
Weaknesses. The weaknesses of Apple Inc. refer to the internal factors that limit the effectiveness of the company to perform efficiently, accomplish the various objectives, neutralize threats, and take advantage of the various available opportunities.
High pricing. A key element behind the loss of numerous potential customers for Apple is the high price tag for its products. While the premium pricing attracts customers with the ability to spend high amounts, it locks out millions of customers who could also boost the company’s revenue stream due to the large numbers that could translate to large volumes in terms of sales.
Incompatibility with other devices and operating systems. A major weakness of the products from Apple Inc. is that they are incompatible with third-party accessories, as well as other operating systems. Users and analysts have coined the term “Apple world” to refer to the use of products, software, accessories and services by Apple or its partners. Such a tight control over usage limits the number of people who purchase the products for lack of other required devices or failure to integrate with their existing ones.
Product Management and Situation Analysis
Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here
We can write this or a similar paper for you! Simply fill the order form!
Shareholder Value Creation
ORDER INSTRUCTIONS
Case 5: Genzyme and related investors:
Objective of this case
The case focuses on corporate governance issues by discussing how the objectives of a large activist shareholder can potentially conflict with the core vision of the target company’s management.
Learning how capital investment and payout policy decisions can affect shareholder value creation.
The case offers an opportunity for discussion on how board composition and executive compensation may help align management with shareholders’ interests in a public company.
Genzyme reached record revenues of $4.6 billion in 2008 and was expected to generate an increasing level of free cash flow in coming years. But operational problems in one manufacturing plant had led to a warning letter in late February 2009 from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which, combined with news on impending health care reform, had pushed Genzyme’s stock price from a high of $70.42 down to a low of $56.38.
Genzyme was being targeted by Relational Investors (RI), an “activist” investment fund that had a 2.6% stake in the company at the end of March 2009. RI had a history of engagements with the boards of numerous companies that, in several instances, resulted in the CEO’s forced resignation.
Ralph Whitworth, RI cofounder and principal, met with Termeer and delivered a presentation, arguing that Genzyme was trading at a discount.
He offered recommendations on how Genzyme could address this:
(1) improve capital allocation decisions;
(2) implement a share-buyback or dividend program;
(3) improve board composition by adding more members with financial expertise; and
(4) focus executive compensation on performance metrics.
Shareholder Value Creation
Table 1
Data in Case:
What’s a biotech company?
Rare diseases/genetic disorders/small populations FDA approval (expensive/slow/low probability)
Case pgs. 2–3
How do you succeed?
Orphan drug (seven-year exclusive) Intensive R&D/strong pipeline
Case pgs. 2–3 Case Exhibit 4
Genzyme’s business model
Diversified: segments (GD-CR-BI-HO) GD CR BI HO Other % revenues 53% 22.8% 10.6% 2.4% 11.1% CFROI 25.8% 8.8% Acquisitions ($ million 97–07) 12 1,943 942 2,081 596 Free cash flows (funding acquisitions): expected to grow
Case Exhibit 7 Case Exhibit 8 Case Exhibit 6 Case Exhibit 13
Genzyme’s financial strategy
No dividends and open-market repurchases (some competitors do!) No debt
Case p. 6 Case Exhibits 1 and 4
GENZYME AND RELATIONAL INVESTORS:
SCIENCE AND BUSINESS COLLIDE?
Table 2
Data in Case:
What is Relational Investors?
Activist investor (vs. Carl Icahn or others?) Engagement battles (% acquired, changes, length of stay?) Performance
Case Exhibits 10 and 11 Case Exhibit 9
Keys to success?
Industry expertise—CFROI analysis Focus: corporate governance Quick turnover: invest, make changes, exit!
Case Exhibit 8
Why target Genzyme?
Intrinsic vs. market value Free cash flow Focus on GD—CFROI 2.6% stake—is that a lot? other shareholders?
Case Exhibit 12 Case Exhibit 13 Case Exhibits 7 and 8 Case Exhibits 2 and 11
Shareholder Value Creation
GENZYME AND RELATIONAL INVESTORS:SCIENCE AND BUSINESS COLLIDE?
Table 3
Issue
Relational Investors’ Criticisms
Genzyme’s Defense
What Happened?
Capital allocation
Diversification outside GD (case Exhibit 6) is destroying shareholder value because non-GD segment’s CFROI low (case Exhibit 8).
Diversification is necessary and investments in biotech take long time to pay back.
Capital allocation committee (chaired by Whitworth); hold on new acquisitions; sale of genetics testing business (2010-Q3).
Share repurchase
FCF should be returned to shareholders in buybacks (see other firms—case Exhibit 4) when internal use generating less than cost of capital (case Exhibit 8).
Need FCF to make long-term investments.
Announcement of $2 billion open-market share buyback program and debt issue (2010-Q2).
Board composition
Need new board members with finance and accounting backgrounds.
Termeer needs board on his side in case of fight (as with Icahn in 2007).
Added to board: Bertolini, Whitworth, one Icahn director (Burkaroff) and two independent directors. (Exhibit TN5)
Executive pay
Incentives are based on revenue generation and not profitability.
Sensitive subject for Termeer and board.
Revised bonus incentive structure
Assignment of case 5
What is the business model for Genzyme? What does Termeer want for his company going forward?
See table 1 of case 5 in the case reading file
What is the business model for Relational Investors?
a. Or can Termeer manage him by agreeing to some of Whitworth’s demands but avoid giving into demands that might compromise the core mission of Genzyme?
b. If so why? How might those changes improve or adversely affect the company and performance?
See the table 2 in the case reading file
Below is a partial answer to the above homework questions by one of our writers. If you are interested in a custom non plagiarized top quality answer, click order now to place your order.
Shareholder Value Creation Case Study Essay
Case 5
The business model is the treatment aiming at individuals with genetic diseases. Genzyme’s business model is diversified with five segments namely: GD, CR, BI, HO and other. Percentage revenue generated by GD, CR, BI, HO and other are….
What is the business model to the rational investor?
The business model of Rational Investor is concerned with profits and rational investor aims at companies with bad…
Should Termeer fight Whitworth?
Termeer should try to create a compromise for both his key missions for…..
We can write this or a similar paper for you! Simply fill the order form!
We can write this or a similar paper for you! Simply fill the order form!
Corporate Value Creation
Case 4: The Battle for Value, FedEx Corp. vs UPS
Summary of case 4:
This case assesses the financial performance of FedEx Corp. and United Parcel Service, Inc (UPS). The two firms have competed intensely for dominance of the overnight express package industry. This case is intended for use in an introductory discussion of corporate value creation and its sources.
Objectives:
The contrasting record of the two firms affords a platform to:
Define excellence from a corporate-finance perspective.
Assess economic profit analysis (also known as Economic Value Added) and, more generally, the measurement of financial performance and health. The case provides a complete historical economic profit analysis for both firms, and permits comparison with other classic approaches to historical performance analysis.
Evaluate the financial implications of rigorous competition and corporate transformation.
Corporate Value Creation
Main concepts of case 4
Economic Value added: definition, Strength and weakness, the factors that affect EVA
Key information:
1. FedEx is growing more rapidly than UPS.
2. The stunning comparison between FedEx and UPS appears in the returns to investors, given in case Exhibit 8, and summarized in the third row of Table 1.
3. Economic profit analysis is generally consistent with the market return analysis.
Table 1. The strengths and weaknesses of various financial measures.
Strengths
Weaknesses
1. Direct inspection of the financial statements
Reveals trends Comparison of absolute sizes
Does not permit a ready assessment of efficiency Biased by size differences Book, not market, values Influenced by GAAP choices Backward, not forward, looking
2. Financial ratios
Adjusts for size differences (a relative, not absolute, measure)Provides comparative measures of efficiency and growth
Based on book, not market, values Influenced by GAAP choices
3. Earnings per share (EPS) and price/earnings ratios
Widely-used measures of performance Linked to market price of stock
EPS influenced by GAAP choices EPS is not a cash flow P/E difficult to interpret Sensitive to choice of observation period
4. Total returns to investors
Cash flow based Market value based Permits bench marking vs. other investments
Sensitive to choice of observation period Needs to be risk adjusted
5. Economic profit (EVA)
Risk adjusted Permits bench marking Theoretically linked to market values Logically appealing Increasingly widely used
Influenced by GAAP choices Ignores latent option values
Table 2 THE BATTLE FOR VALUE, 2004: FEDEX CORP.VS. UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC.
Corporate Value Creation
Summary of Comparative Results
FedEx
UPS
Source (case exhibit number)
Financial ratio analysis Activity Liquidity Leverage Profitability Growth
Improving Improving Declining Worse than UPS High
Weakening Better than FedEx Consistently low Better than FedEx Lower than FedEx
Total market returns Cum. total return (1992–2003) Cum. return net of S&P (1992–2003)
528.02% 372.83%
705.95% 550.75%
8
Economic profit – EVA 2003 Cumulative for 1992–2003 EVA Market value added Difference
(in millions) $170 ($2,252) $11,191 $13,443
(in millions) $1,195 $4,328 $62,028 $57,700
9, 10
Case 4 Assignment
1) What happened to FedEx and UPS’s stock price in early 2004? Why did they rise? Why did one outpace the other? In an efficient market, how are we to interpret FedEx’s 14% increase in market value?
how is a stock value determined?
how does the air-transportation agreement affect the two firms stock price?
both UPS and FedEx had been laying the foundation for a regional- and international-delivery business in China since the late 1990s. Thus, the latest announcement may indicate the market’s acceptance of that strategy and both firms’ ability to exploit that opportunity.
FedEx had acquired air routes into China as early as 1995, whereas UPS did not begin its direct flights into China until 2001.
2) How have UPS and FedEx performed financially? How do you measure financial performance? What do the financial statements and ratios show? What does the stock-price performance tell you? How is EVA calculated? What does it reveal? Does stock price track the historical EVA?
Discuss this questions based on the table 1 and table 2 in the case study file
EVA: a measure of a company’s financial performance based on the residual wealth calculated by deducting its cost of capital from its operating profit, adjusted for taxes on a cash basis.
3) This is a pretty depressing picture for FedEx: Why hasn’t its stock price fallen in absolute terms? How can we rationalize the expectation that FedEx will preserve the value that it currently has?
Hint: think of the EVA limitation in table 1.
Below is a partial answer to the above homework questions by one of our writers. If you are interested in a custom non plagiarized top quality answer, click order now to place your order.
Corporate Value Creation Case Study Essay
Part 1
What happened to FedEx and UPS’s stock price in early 2004?The stock price of both FedEx and UPS increased. There was an increase in the price of both the companies because of the companies cum total return from 1992 to 2003, as well as the EPS compound annual growth rate, is high though compound growth rate for FedEx decreased within the years 1999 to 2003. Economic value added of the two companies within 1992 to 2003 is significant. EVA is a representation of company performance and it focuses on shareholders’ value hence its high value shows that the company stock price of the companies in…
Part 2
UPS financial risk is low since its analysis ratio on leverage is low while FedEx financial risk is reducing as indicated by its leverage ratios. Both UPS and FedEx are more liquid, liquidity ratios show that both firms are performing better. Activity ratios show that FedEx is more active than UPS. In conclusion, the two firms’ financial performance is….
Part 3
FedEx profitability ratio is worse, showing that the company is less profitable. Low profitability of a company lowers the company EPS thus lowering its…..
We can write this or a similar paper for you! Simply fill the order form!
